Khalil, Aya. Great Banned-Books Bake Sale, The. Anait Semirdzhyan, Illus. Tilbury House, 08/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.95. 978-0-88448-967-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. ADDITIONAL.
A powerful story based on current national headlines, this story continues The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story (2020), with Kanzi’s elementary school class eagerly visiting the school library to find books to read. Unfortunately, they are disappointed and upset to discover that a book challenge has emptied the Diverse Books bookcase, and now she cannot find books with children like herself, or with Arabic words to share with her mother. Her classmates rally to support Kanzi, coming up with a bake sale idea to raise money to replace the missing books, which ends up garnering local news coverage and results in the school board reinstating the books. Watercolor illustrations depict a diverse class that works together to support everyone. Readers see why diverse books are needed, and how a community’s support makes a difference.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library